Jeff Blashill: Future Red Wings Coach?

[Yemack]

A year or so ago, weren't you the guy in here saying you weren't going to renew your season tickets because of Holland's lack of moves for this team?

But umm, yeah. If you've watched Nyquist or Tatar you'd see exactly what they brings to this team - speed, energy and a desire to win that is currently hidden among our current core. Both would be upgrades, although you're right that as far as a grinder, neither could replace Abby on the 4th line.

The thing is.. and what I fail to understand why even some of most hard core fans dont see this, is that we can't have 3 playmakers/skill guys in 1 line. Not in a conference we play in.

yes I do think Babcock can mix up the line a bit more during the game. However, we are having hard enough time to retrieving puck now. Do you really want to make it harder? I like Nyquist but Abdelkader is a light year ahead of Nyquist and Tatar in that department. Unless Nquist develops some mad stick handling and starts owning everybody with skill like Dats or Z, I dont think he will ever be good as Abby and it is a fact.

From what I gather, Abby supposedly wasn't very good at beginning of the season. OK maybe some of you guy's frustration comes from there. I dont know. The games I saw, though, he was extremely good at his role (except maybe the net front bit) and even showed some patience with the puck which I've never seen him doing that before. I thought he gelled well with Dats and Z to be honest.

It's funny but I've toured different Ducks message board around the net and do you know which player their fans fear the most? You not gonna believe this but they really dont like the fact that Abdelkader is coming back in game 6! So many of them hate that they lost game 4 so they have to see 'rested' Abdelkader again. If a red wings player name come up there, 9 times out of 10 it's Abby. I dont really think Abby is going to be a game changer to be honest but hey if he is feared, why not make use of him? at least he will draw some focus away from our key players.

Maybe next season, we could see skill guys playing together bit more as we are moving to east where players dont dump the puck to the corner as much as west. But to win in west, we can't let Z or Pav wear down during the season trying get those puck from big heavy D. Why do you think Holmstrom played with Pav and Z? because of his skill? chemistry? Homer gave puck to either of them as soon as he got it and went to the net. Dats doesn't need anyone to really share the puck except Z. Though it maybe interesting to see Dats Nyquist Abby line.

 

[Sentinel]

People on this board like to ignore the truth. The truth is that Holland and Babcock knoe infinitely more than they do. They are likely the best coach/gm tandem in the world. If the team was run by anyone foolish enough to fire them it would be the worst team in all of sports. I constantly see people on this board calling both Holland and Babcock stupid. It is laughable.

This team failed to make conference finals for three years in a row
and now risks being ousted in the first round for the second straight year. It's been getting progressively worse since 2009. Your blind devotion to these two clowns is laughable.

 

[SoupNazi]

This team failed to make conference finals for three years in a row
and now risks being ousted in the first round for the second straight year. It's been getting progressively worse since 2009. Your blind devotion to these two clowns is laughable.

For what it's worth, Anaheim has the same risk of being ousted in the first round as we do.

 

[Sentinel]

It's funny If a red wings player name come up there, 9 times out of 10 it's Abby. I dont really think Abby is going to be a game changer to be honest but hey if he is feared, why not make use of him? at least he will draw some focus away from our key players.

Just shows bow misguided Ducks fans can be. One thing Abby definitely does NOT do is draw focus away from D & Z. There is not one defenseman in the world who worries about him, when Datsyuk is on ice.

Dats doesn't need anyone to really share the puck except Z. Though it maybe interesting to see Dats Nyquist Abby line.

What Dats needs is a sniper. Which is what KH did not provide him after Hossa. Abby is good along the boards, but even when he retrieves the puck, he doesn't get it to Dats, because he can't pass for ****. And his net presence is pathetic. Don't even bring Holmstrom into this, he was ten times the stickhandler, ten times the passer, ten times the shooter, and twenty times the screen Abby is. One tenth the skater, I give you that.

 

[Sentinel]

People on this board like to ignore the truth. The truth is that Holland and Babcock knoe infinitely more than they do. They are likely the best coach/gm tandem in the world. If the team was run by anyone foolish enough to fire them it would be the worst team in all of sports. I constantly see people on this board calling both Holland and Babcock stupid. It is laughable.

This team failed to make conference finals for three years in a row
and now risks being ousted in the first round for the second straight year. It's been getting progressively worse since 2009. Your blind devotion to these two clowns is laughable.

 

[Vladdy84]

This team failed to make conference finals for three years in a row
and now risks being ousted in the first round for the second straight year. It's been getting progressively worse since 2009. Your blind devotion to these two clowns is laughable.

This.

 

[Yemack]

This team failed to make conference finals for three years in a row
and now risks being ousted in the first round for the second straight year. It's been getting progressively worse since 2009. Your blind devotion to these two clowns is laughable.

ok let's say you are a team president. why dont you give me a name of gm who wouldn't be fired under your management because they've made conference final 3 consecutive year in cap world? I can only think of one and he works for our team.

so why did you want him fired and who do you plan to replace with?

IMO Blackhawks is prolly the only team having a shot at 3 consecutive conf final appearance starting this season. and we all know how many years of suckitude they had to endure to do that.

 

[Actual Thought*]

So go to a message board where Babs and Cleary hang out.

HFBOARDS is a place where FANS share their opinions.

Let me get this straight. You are arguing to fire the best management team in hockey and anyone who disagrees should just leave because this is a place where real fans share their opinions? My opinion is that firing Babs and Holland would be both short sighted and galactically stupid. Holland has lost more hall of fame talent over the last 20 years than any GM has acquired and still makes the playoffs. If this is the worst team Holland has iced in his tenure I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. The cap has decimated the Red Wings just like it was intended to do. For the record Bob, I was very much in agreement with you through the lockout but I think firing this management team is ludicrous at best. If this is a board where real fans share their opinions then there you go. It just so happens that my opinion is supported by the strongest resumes in the NHL.

 

[Actual Thought*]

This team failed to make conference finals for three years in a row
and now risks being ousted in the first round for the second straight year. It's been getting progressively worse since 2009. Your blind devotion to these two clowns is laughable.

Blind devotion? How about track record? If you suggested to every GM in the NHL that you think Holland and Babcock should be fired you would be laughed out of the room. The notion is absurd beyond comprehension.

 

[Winger98]

If you think a post is out of line, report it using the little report post button on every single post. Thanks.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

It just so happens that my opinion is supported by the strongest resumes in the NHL.

Resumes are about the past.

People with great resumes get fired all the time

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Tatar is currently 38th in AHL scoring (49 in 61), but spent a significant chunk of time in the NHL. If he played 82 games in the AHL at that rate, he would have ~65 points, which places him in the top ten in scoring (and ahead of former Red Wing Kris Newbury, who has 62 points).

They don't play 82 games, so putting him on that pace is silly to begin with. He can only play 15 more games, he basically winds up with the same point total he got last year.

And yes I think Blashill should be the next coach of this team, the only thing that gives me pause is he is actually pretty similar to Babcock.

 

[Actual Thought*]

Resumes are about the past.

People with great resumes get fired all the time

I profoundly disagree with the idea that a GM who won a Stanley Cup after losing Federov, Konstantinov, Fetisov, Larinov, Yzerman, Shanahan, Hull, Hasek, Robitaille, ect... should be fired. In 99-01 the Wings lost twice in the second rd and once in the first. Based on record Holland should have been fired then. Hindsight says that would have been a bad decision and it would be a bad decision now. I would love to see someone present a management team that is available that would be substantially better. I mean you wouldn't want to fire the best MGT team in sports and gamble on a maybe. Would you?

 

[Actual Thought*]

Resumes are about the past.

People with great resumes get fired all the time

Yes, and poor decisions are made all the time too.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

I profoundly disagree with the idea that a GM who won a Stanley Cup after losing Federov, Konstantinov, Fetisov, Larinov, Yzerman, Shanahan, Hull, Hasek, Robitaille, ect... should be fired. In 99-01 the Wings lost twice in the second rd and once in the first. Based on record Holland should have been fired then. Hindsight says that would have been a bad decision and it would be a bad decision now. I would love to see someone present a management team that is available that would be substantially better. I mean you wouldn't want to fire the best MGT team in sports and gamble on a maybe. Would you?

Come on.
For me, right now, I wouldn't even fire Holland. Though I wouldn't have minded seeing him go upstairs and letting Nill take over.

But for Babcock, I want him fired.

Time to get a coach who believes in Red Wings philosophy.

Babcock and go reunite with Brian Burke somewhere

Still, I find your logic troubling.
You think that because the Red Wings were able to win after losing all these guys -- that Holland should keep his job forever?

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I am much more opposed to firing good upper management than I am coaches. I don't think Babcock will want to stay himself after this next contract, I actually really believe the U of M rumor, I think that is his next job if they can come up with the cash to make him happy enough. In any event coaches messages get stale, coaches themselves state that. I think we have really reached the end of the road more than likely with Babcock. He certainly has done nothing to earn an extension on this current contract and that means unless next year goes exceedingly well and he doesn't choose to leave for Michigan before that summer he will want an extension, gets tricky in that regard.

 

[Actual Thought*]

Come on.
For me, right now, I wouldn't even fire Holland. Though I wouldn't have minded seeing him go upstairs and letting Nill take over.

But for Babcock, I want him fired.

Time to get a coach who believes in Red Wings philosophy.

Babcock and go reunite with Brian Burke somewhere

Still, I find your logic troubling.
You think that because the Red Wings were able to win after losing all these guys -- that Holland should keep his job forever?

I think Holland's success buys him a little latitude. Yes. I would say the same for Babs. Both have had a great deal of success at their respective jobs. I have no reason to believe that both have suddenly become stupid and forgotten everything they knew. Nor do I think assessing, developing and coaching talent has changed all that much in the last 10 years. Therefore I believe it is obvious that Holland and Babcock are capable qualified individuals making decisions that their qualifications and capabilities tell them are best.

 

[Heaton]

I think Holland's success buys him a little latitude. Yes. I would say the same for Babs. Both have had a great deal of success at their respective jobs. I have no reason to believe that both have suddenly become stupid and forgotten everything they knew. Nor do I think assessing, developing and coaching talent has changed all that much in the last 10 years. Therefore I believe it is obvious that Holland and Babcock are capable qualified individuals making decisions that their qualifications and capabilities tell them are best.

Babcock knows how to win - I don't care about systems or schemes or who plays with who as long as we win. If this team had more talent and wasn't bursting at the seams with rookies (ironic how this is now an issue after we all were furious rookies weren't getting a chance) we would be in better shape.

I don't know what should be expected after the last few seasons and who this team has lost.

 

[Actual Thought*]

I am much more opposed to firing good upper management than I am coaches. I don't think Babcock will want to stay himself after this next contract, I actually really believe the U of M rumor, I think that is his next job if they can come up with the cash to make him happy enough. In any event coaches messages get stale, coaches themselves state that. I think we have really reached the end of the road more than likely with Babcock. He certainly has done nothing to earn an extension on this current contract and that means unless next year goes exceedingly well and he doesn't choose to leave for Michigan before that summer he will want an extension, gets tricky in that regard.

It took Babcock 9 more games to reach 400 wins than it took Scotty Bowman. That's pretty good company and it would be a huge gamble to squander that if it is at all possible to keep him. This roster has turned over a ton. The stale message thing seems kinda silly to me given how many new players there are. I seriously doubt guys like Dats and Z are dragging the whole team down because they have grown tired of Babcock's message.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

Babcock knows how to win - I don't care about systems or schemes or who plays with who as long as we win. If this team had more talent and wasn't bursting at the seams with rookies (ironic how this is now an issue after we all were furious rookies weren't getting a chance) we would be in better shape.

I don't know what should be expected after the last few seasons and who this team has lost.

It's not ironic.

There was no need for us to have all this inexperience in the lineup at once.
That's Babcock's and Holland's fault.

They trusted guys like Salei, bertuzzi, Samuelsson, Quincey and Modano instead of giving kids a shot.

 

[Actual Thought*]

It's not ironic.

There was no need for us to have all this inexperience in the lineup at once.
That's Babcock's and Holland's fault.

They trusted guys like Salei, bertuzzi, Samuelsson, Quincey and Modano instead of giving kids a shot.

I am going out on a limb here but do you think they might know things about the maturity, discipline, and conditioning of those young players? Maybe they truly felt that they weren't ready. Are they suddenly not qualified to make such assessments? Last year when healthy the team dominated. Are you arguing that they should have ditched all the veterans and put in rookies? Being thrown to the wolves and eaten up might not be the best strategy in developing young players. Is it remotely possible that Holland has had such great success with late pick talent because of his development strategy or was it just stupid luck?

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

It took Babcock 9 more games to reach 400 wins than it took Scotty Bowman. That's pretty good company and it would be a huge gamble to squander that if it is at all possible to keep him. This roster has turned over a ton. The stale message thing seems kinda silly to me given how many new players there are. I seriously doubt guys like Dats and Z are dragging the whole team down because they have grown tired of Babcock's message.

Scotty Bowman stayed in places about this long as well. His longest stint as a head coach was nine years, he has said openly you should move on at that point. Quite frankly I don't think it matters what we think, Babcock is probably going to leave himself. But it really isn't the worst thing in the world, coaches messages get tired, it is the reason many of the greatest coaches have choose to move around.

 

[Heaton]

It's not ironic.

There was no need for us to have all this inexperience in the lineup at once.
That's Babcock's and Holland's fault.

They trusted guys like Salei, bertuzzi, Samuelsson, Quincey and Modano instead of giving kids a shot.

That's not unique for the Wings - basically every team does that.

 

[Actual Thought*]

Come on.
For me, right now, I wouldn't even fire Holland. Though I wouldn't have minded seeing him go upstairs and letting Nill take over.

But for Babcock, I want him fired.

Time to get a coach who believes in Red Wings philosophy.

Babcock and go reunite with Brian Burke somewhere

Still, I find your logic troubling.
You think that because the Red Wings were able to win after losing all these guys -- that Holland should keep his job forever?

Babcock believes in winning as his resume indicates. How exactly is that in conflict with Red Wing's philosophy?

 

[Actual Thought*]

Scotty Bowman stayed in places about this long as well. His longest stint as a head coach was nine years, he has said openly you should move on at that point. Quite frankly I don't think it matters what we think, Babcock is probably going to leave himself. But it really isn't the worst thing in the world, coaches messages get tired, it is the reason many of the greatest coaches have choose to move around.

With all the new faces who exactly is this message getting tired with? Last I checked the veterans are playing pretty well with the exception of Cleary and it isn't effort on his part that is the cause.